The Bellator welterweight champion is not the headliner next Wednesday night on Spike TV when the MMA organization brings a massive show to Albuquerque, N.M. That distinction goes to lightweight champion Michael Chandler and his opponent David Rickels.

Askren told The Post he would be angry if it were anyone else besides his friend Chandler in the main event and not him. Yet the perceived lack of respect does not please him either. Askren said if the company continues this kind of treatment, it could “bite Bellator in the ass.”

“It shows me where Bellator really thinks I am,” Askren said. “They can talk all they want. When they put me not in the main event spot, I see how it goes.”

Askren’s contract is reportedly up soon and the UFC will likely make a bid for his services, considering he’s one of the top 170-pound fighters in the world. Bellator has the right to match any offer. Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is currently tied up in litigation regarding whether or not Bellator actually legally matched the UFC’s contract.

Askren, 29, is not concerned right now with life as a potential free agent. He says he’ll let his manager deal with “98 percent” of that.

Next Wednesday night, Askren will meet Andrey Koreshkov, a Russian striker who won the season seven welterweight tournament. The champion calls it his “easiest title defense on paper.” Koreshkov, Askren says, has deficiencies in cardio and wrestling – two of Askren’s biggest strengths.

“That combination makes a pretty easy fight for me,” Askren said.

Always candid, Askren says he admires noted trash talker Chael Sonnen somewhat, but questions some of the outrageous things that come out of his mouth.

“I’m not quite as good at what he does yet,” Askren said of the former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight top contender. “He’s like a pro at talking. Literally that’s what he gets paid for.”

Askren, a former Olympic wrestler, isn’t sure how much longer he wants to get paid for fighting, saying if he retired today he’d leave his “competitive career completely fulfilled.” There are no goals left, Askren said, not even a matchup with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who he tweeted he could beat after St-Pierre’s last fight in March.

“I still think that,” Askren said.

Askren wants to pursue other outlets to make money. He just released a six-DVD series explaining the techniques that make him an elite MMA wrestler. Askren feels he’s the best wrestler in the sport, so much so that he bought the domain BestMMAWrestler.com to sell his DVDs.

“I don’t want to fight for that much longer,” Askren said. “It should be a young man’s sport.”

Next week, he’ll take on Koreshkov and then Askren could be in for an even bigger fight – between the UFC and Bellator for his talents.